I would recommend you focus on only 1 technology/software project to tackle. Spend the first 4 weeks doing no programming at all. Over the weeks 5-8, think about the project goals, what tools are best for it and do your research into project feasibility but don't actually dive into starting to do actual programming work. By the end of 2 months you should be pretty refreshed and rested, but you will have also done all the background/prep necessary to hit the ground running with your project. You may also want to limit your programming project to 3 of the 4 remaining months, however you divide your time so that your project doesn't consume your every waking moment.
Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
41–50 of 74 posts
Re: Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
#42Brew beer. It is rewarding, (mostly) fun, non-trivial, and the result is surprisingly good.
Are you a homebrewer, or do you commercially produce?
Re: Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
#43I recommend meditation in addition to your list. Developing a daily practice and perhaps an extended retreat.
Re: Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can I ask? How does one go on a 12-month sabbatical? Did you just save up a bunch of money at your day job, and then decide one day to take 12 months off and spend a chunk of your savings?
Worked for 10 years. Long distance girlfriend and I wanted to close the gap but didn't want stay in NYC or PHL. So we came up with Option C: sell everything and travel the world for a year. 1.5 years later it's worked out pretty well.
Wow... that takes some courage I would think. Nicely done.
Re: Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
#45Play Nethack.
Re: Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
#46Take a neat course! I have on my list of courses I want to take:
- Powerlifting (one session, teaches you good form for several lifts)
- Small diesel engine maintenance (6 weeks, evening)
- Professional bike mechanic certification (5 weeks, full time)
- Upholstery (workshop format, as many as you want, $100 per session)
- Cobblery (haven't found a course yet, just really want to learn how to make sweet shoes and bags)
- Linux sysadmin (online but with a human coach, costs a few grand)
- Welding C certificate (evenings, 3 weeks)
- Swing dancing (Monday and Friday nights before the mixer, 8 bucks/session!)
Re: Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
#47Re: Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
#48Brew beer. It is rewarding, (mostly) fun, non-trivial, and the result is surprisingly good.
I'm already a homebrewer although post kids not as often, getting back into it is a possibility.
Re: Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
Unstructured regular life? Do you mean retirement? Pretty sure your best shot at happiness, true happiness, is to retire early. Not so you can be lazy, but so that you can freely pursue endeavors which inspire, and motivate you. That would be an amazing life.
As someone who has been living that life for 2 years, and can retire today, at 24, it isn't the utopia people think.
What would you say the downsides are? Boredom? Too much choice?
Re: Ask HN: What should I plan to do on a 6 month sabbatical?
#50I am in a similar situation. I am doing the following:
1. Finishing real estate course so that I have the license to pursue alternative career in free time/ weekends, etc.
2. Buying groupons for unlimited Yoga classes. Never been able to stick to a workout routine so hoping will get something from yoga (hot) to be in a little bit better shape before Jan/Feb comes and things get crowded.
3. Planning to travel for few weeks.
4. Talk to some startups (I have been in corporate world) that are really making a difference to just know about 'em!